Planting machine



3 1927. v 1 627143 May F. BONCHINA PLANTING MACHINE Filed July 50. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 awuemm I Bone hbna/ D fi Y May 3 1927'.

- F. BONCHlNA PLANTING MACHINE Filed July 30. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet YIIIIIIIIIA 1927 1 627 143 May F. BON.CHINA PLANTING MACHINE Filed July 30. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l a'tznted 3, 1927i uuirso STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK BONCHINA, OF GAIRNBROOK, PENNSYLVANIA.

PLANTING MACHINE.

Application fled I'm-l1 30,.

kind which is extren'iely simple and durable in construction as well as efficient in operation. r i

A further object is to provide a planting machine oi the above kind embodying a rela ively shallow seed hopper. a delivery chute or spout, a rotatable device including plurality of seed cup carrying arms movable through the hopper and the spout for intermittently delivering a predetermined number of seeds from the hop-per and dropping the same into the spout for delivery ino the furrow, a seed box adapted to re- 'ceive a large quantity of the seeds to be planted, and 1-neansi'or intermittently deliveringa quantity of the seeds from the seed box to the hopper so that a required small quai'itity oi seeds will be at alltimes had within the hopper for delivery to the spout, and wl' 'eby the quantity of seeds maintained be comparatively small so as to ofl'e a mini mum resistance to the rotation of the seed delivery and d roppi ng. devi ce,

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for .efi'ecting delivering of quantitiesof seeds intermittently from the seedbox' to the hopper upon the forward travel of the machine! and .i'nauually operable means for rendere the hopper inoperative at will.

A still further object is to provide im-.

the said. means "for delivering seeds to proved means for effecting operation of the rotatable device for delivery or seedsfroln the hopper to the delivery Spout,'and improved manually operable means for rendering said rotatable device inoperative at will."

A still 'lurther object to provide simple and eth'rtivc means for preventing the seeds from droppin g through the seed hopper while at the same time permitting free upward passage oi? the seed cups for delivering m the shallow hopper will 192. Serial No. 126,032. I

quantities of the seeds from the hopper to the delivery spout.

Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, and. the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangen'ient of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

ln. the drawings, wl'ierein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

. Figure 1 is a top plan view ot a planting I machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, with parts omitted; Figure 2 is a view of the machine shown in Figure 1, partly in side elevationand partly in longitudinal section;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially upon line of Figure 1 and drawn on a larger scale; V

Figure 4 is fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially upon line ai of Figure 2 A I ignre .5 is a fragmentary Vertical sectiontaken substantially upon line 5 -5 of Fig' ure 2; i

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section taken sulostant'mlly upon line 66 of Fig-. ure 2;'and

Figure 7 isa fragmentary vertical transverse section taken through the seedhopper and adjacent parts. i

Referring moreindetail to. the drawings, the present planting machine generallyem bodies a longitudinally elongated, frame 5 of suitable construction, andthrough the intermediate lower portion of which is freely journaled a transverse supporting axle v7 whose ends project beyond opposite sides of, the frame 5 and havesuitable ground engaging or supporting wheels 8 journaled v thereon. The hubs of the supporting wheels 8 are provided at their inner sides with rigid ratchet clutch elements 9 adapted to coooerate with similar clutch elements 10 slit ably keyed uponv the axle 7, inwardly of the wheels 8., whereby, when. the clutch elements '10 are slid outwardly'into engagement with the clutch elements 9, the rotation of the supporting wheels 8 will be transmitted to the axle '7 upon forward travel ofv the planting machine for the actuation of certain mechanisms as will presently become apparent. It willv also be seen that when the clutch elements .10 are disengaged from loo ill)

hrclutch elements 9, the supporting wheels y freely rotate without impartmg rotation to the axle 7 so that the planting machine may be readily tr isported fronrone c operation pla c to another without causm Id mechanisms. Further, the ratchet form of the rlutrh eiem-en'is 9 and it), it will be seen that the supporting wheels 8 may freely rotate backward-1y without inlluencing the axle 7, whereby reverse actuation of said mechanisms will be prevented upon backing of the machine, and" whereby short turns may be effected Without interrupting the operation of the planting machine. These facts will be evident when it is pointed out that the"mechanisms referred to are driven from the axle 7 when the latter is caused to rotate by clutching of tie, supporting wheels 8 therewith.

As shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 5, the clutch elements 10 are swiveledin the intermediate portions of horizontal cross bars 11 arrangedlongitudinally of and at ops posite sides of the frame 5, and the ends of these cross bars 11' are connected with the frame by helical tension springs 12 so that the clutch elements are normally yieldinglyslid'inwardly to released position. Operatively engaged with the clutch elements 10 are angular clutch shifting elements or forks 13 whose lower horizontal arms project inwardly toward each other and are slidably guided for tranverse move ment toward and awayfrom each other 111' a slotted depending intermediate portion of the frame 5 as shown in Figure: 5. The hori-' lowedto separate and disengage from the clutch'elements 9 under the action of the springs 12. The movement of thewedgebar' 14 is preferably accomplished lay-operating means including a transverse lever 15 disk posed beneath the forward portion of the frame 5 and having one end pivoted to the latter as at 16, the forward end ofthe wedge bar 14 being pivoted to said leverl5 intermediate the ends of the latter as indicated at 17. This operating means further includes a hand lever 18 pivoted intermediate its ends to one side of the forward portion of frame 5 and having'its lower end operatively connected to the other endiof lever 15 bymeans of a link 19. Thus, when the upper end of lever 18 is swung rearwardly theforward sliding movement of the Wedge bar letis eifected, while rearward sliding movement of said wedge bar is had when the upper end of lever 18 is swung forwardly;

Mounted in the upper portion of'theintermediate part of frame 5 is a relatively shallow seed receiving hopper 20, and suitably mounted in the forward part of frame 5 diminatesat a point adjacent the grounddh rectly in the rear of a furrow opener 22.

A rotary device is provided for deliver ing the, seeds orsecd potatoesfrom the l1opper-'20 and dropping the same intermittently into the delivery spout 21, one at a time or in predetermined numbers, depending upon the character of theseeds being planted. This rotary device includes a hub member 23 fixed upon a transverse horizontal shaft 24L suitably journaled in the frame 5 at the upper rear part of the delivery spout 21 and rectly forwardly of the hopper 20 is a verticaldelivery spout 21 whose lower end teroperatively connected with the axle 7 by means of a belt gearing generally indicated at 25, the hub 23 being provided with a phi rality of equally spaced radial arms 21; having seed cups 27 rigidly fastei'ied to similar sides of the outer ends thereof. The adjacent'walls of the hopper20 and the spent 21' and the bottom wall ofthe hopper are slotted as at 28 to provide just sufiicient clearance for'the passage of theseed cup carrying arms 26 when rotated, and it will be'noted that the enlargen'ient of the slot of the hopper 20 is at the bottom of the lat.- ter where a proper quantity of seeds is mamtained at alltimes due to the downwardly convergingrelation of the side wallsof liopper 20 as shown clearly in Figure/3. The enlarged end portion of the hopper slot 28 for the passage of the cups 27 is normally closed by means of a pair of horizontal slide elements [29 which are normally yieldingly held in adjacent closing relation and constitute outturned upper ends of downward- 1y diver ing spring arms 30. Thus, upon forward travel of the planting machine with the clutchfelenie-nts l0 engaged with the clutch elements 9, the seed transferrin and dropping device will be rotated in a ClOCTiWlSB direct-ion as viewed inzFigure 3, and as the successive seed cups move upwardly they will force the spring arms SO'apart so as to separate the slide. elements 29 an d permit the cup to} take "up a seed rotation of the delivery and dropping depotato or a quantity of seeds which will besubsequently dropped 'j into the delivery spout 21 upon continued vice. Obviously, as one cup passes upwardly into the hopper 20 past the slide members 29,

the latter will be quickly immediately forced together 'toclosing position until the next succeeding cup forces the sameapart, thereby preventing loss of seedsvby reason of the latter dropping 1 downwardly through the portion of the slot 28 in the bottom of hop,- per 20.

Asthe hopper 20 is comparatively shallow and adapted to only contain a small quantit z hopper 20 so that the planting operation may be continued without interruption. For this purpose, 1 provide a relatively large seed. box 3O upon the upper rear portion Oi the frame 5 adapted to initially receive the supply of seeds orseed p'otatoes,'andj as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 3', this seed box is open at its forward end and arranged so that a quantity of the seeds or seed potatoes may be displaced therefrom directly into the hopper 20. In order toeffect displacen'ient ot a small quantity oi the seeds or seed potatoes from the seed box 30 into the hopper at the required intervals, a delivery slide or ejector plate 2-31. is longitudinally movable upon the bottom ot the seed box and is normally moved to an inactive rearwardly slid position by n'leans of a spring 32 having its lower end attached to the frame 5 and" its upper end bearing upon the forwardly projecting end portion 33 of the depei'n ling rear end part 841 Oi said ejector plate. It will noted that the depending part 34- slidably guided between a pair oi? rearwardly projecting guide arn'is 35 on the frame 5 and is carried by the rear end of the plate 31 which slidably projects through the rear end of the seed box. 30 see Fig.

:i is a horizontal o 'ierating bar so whose rearcnd is rigidly attached to the depend ing part 3% of the slide plate 231, and whose :lorward: end carries a, rigid depending arm 3'? adapted to be intermi'ltently and sue-cessively engaged by the arms of a two arm cam element 88 fixed upon the axle 7 when the latter is caused to rotate by being clutched with the supporting Wheels 8. Thus, the arms of the cam element 38 will intermittently strike the arm 37 for thereby causing intermittent sliding movement of the ejector plate 31 in a "forward direction against the action of the spring 32, a small quantity of the seeds or seed potatoes being ejected from the seed box into the hopper 20 at each forward movement of the plate 31. A restricted or limited delivery, of seeds or seed potatoes from the seed box 30 by means of the plate 31 is more positively insured by reason of the fact that the plate 31 is considerably narrower than the seed box and it will further be apparent that as soon as an arm of the cam element '81 passes the arm 37 the latter Wlll be released so that ,llidnbly mounted at one side oi the frame the spring 32 will immediately returntheslide 31 to. its rearward? inactive position urn. til the arm 37 is. again. engaged by the next succeeding arm of the cam element 38. The rear end of an actuating rod: 89 is slidably engaged with the operating bar 36 rearwardly of the arm 31, and this rod. 39 is pivotally. attached. at its iiorward; end to\ avertically swinging hand lever aorpivoted to the side oil' the frame 5 and associated with a" rack segment dl fixed to the frame 5: and the delivery spout orchute 21:. By swinging the lever ll) forwardly the limit 015 rearward movement of the slide 31 under the action oi" the spring 32 may be adjusted by reasonof the fact that theai-m 37 will about the rear end of: bar 39 when moved reamvardiy: Thus, in this way, the length of stroke of the ejector plate 31' may be controlled or adjusted so that the quantity of seedsor seed potatoes delivered from the seed box to the hopper 20 may be varied according to conditions met with during diii'erent planting o i-ierations. Naturally,"when the rearward movement of the arm 37 is limited: to a certain point by adjustment of'the lever lta'the arms of the cam element 38 will not come into engagement with the arn'i 37' untillater point ottheir revolutions than would be the case were the lever 40 adjusted to permit further rearward movement of "the arm 37. It willbe noted that by reason of the construction shown, aplurality of the c'upswill transfer seeds from the hopper 20 during the interval between each operation of the ejector plate 31 so that an over' supply oitseeds or seed potatoes from the seed box to thehopp-er is not had The furrow opener 22 consists oi? a conventional plow disposed directly in front of the lower end portion of delivery spout 21 and rigid upon the lower. end of a vertica standard 412 sli'dably mounted in thefor ward end of the t'rarne 5i Attachedto the. standard i2 is an operating rod! 43: whose upper end is connected with a hand; lever t-it pivoted torvertical swinging movcn'ieut. This hand lever may be associated with a suitable rack segment if desired so as to maintain the same in any desired position, and it will be seen that by raising the lever i l the lurrow opener 22 maybe elevated to an inactive position, or lowered to an active position, the distance of lowering of the furrow opener regulating the depth of the fur: row to suit conditions. Rearwulrdly converging covering blades 45 are disposed at opposite sides of the lower end of spout 21. and project rearwardly of the latter, so that they may act to cover the seeds after they are deposited in the furrow through the delivery spout 21. These covering blades or plates ,45 are, rigidly attached to the standard 42and carried by vertically slidable standards 46 so that they may be vertically I so cringblades 45 being accomplished by op eration of the same lever 44.

In operation, a quantity of seeds or seed potatoes are placed in the seed ho); :30 and the furrow opener 22 is engaged with the ground so as to cause the -torn'iation ot' a.

furrow of the required depth upon forward travel of the planting machine. This for-- Ward travel of the machine may he ellected in any desired manner, and upon. starting of the formation of the "furrow, the lever 18 is actuated to engage the clutch elements it) with the clutch elements 9 so as to cause rotation of axle 7. and shaft 24:. Upon cortinued 'lor *ard travelling movement of the planting machine the slide will he actuated to deliver a small quantity of seed potatoes or seeds from the seed box 80 into the hopper .20 Where they \villflai'successively. delivered in predetermined (piantitiee from the hopper .20 and dropped into the delivery spout 21 by the seed cups 2? moving upwardly through the hopper 520 as the arms 25 carrying said cups rotate in a eloclzv-wise direct-ion. Thus, a predeterinined quantity of seeds is intermittently dropped into the delivery spout 21 for being; planted in the furrow at regular interva s, the automatically covered by the hl: h? upon the forward travel of the machine. Upon each revolution of axle T two forward movrments are imparted to the slide 3i so that the supply of seeds or seed potatoes in the hopper 20 is replenished at proper intervals so as to at all, times present a sntiieient quantity of seeds or seed imtators in the hopper 20 for delivery from the latter by the up Wardly movingcups 2?.

From the above general description oi the operation and the detailed explanations of the various operations outlined as the specific description progressed, it is believed that the invention will he clearly understmd do. being and its advantages appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes maybe made'without departing from the sp1r1t and scope ot the 111- vention as claimed.

What I claim as new is 1. A planting machine comprising a frame having a relatively shallow seed hopper mounted thereon, a delivery spout. arranged in advance of the seed hopper, means tor intermittently delivering predetermined quantities of seeds from the seed, hopper and dropping the same into the delivery spout, a seed loo): having a delivery end arranged to discharge into'the seed hopper, and an ejector mechanism for intermittently ejecting predetermined. quantities of seeds from the seed box into said hopper, said ejector mechanism comprising a longitudinally slidahle ejector plate slidahle upon the bottom of the seed 'hox,yieldable means for normally retracting the ejector plate to an inoperative position, and cam mechanism for autrnnatieally intermittently sliding the ejector plate from inactive position to etlect delivery ot the quantity of seeds to the hopper.

2. In a planting machine of the character erated means for sliding the ejector plate in the opposite direction against said spring" means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature FRANK BONCHINA,- 

